2025 Transportation, Paving, & Mobility Improvements in SLO

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Current Construction Updates

We expect to begin pavement grinding work on Sacramento Drive from Industrial Way to Via Esteban in preparation for new asphalt paving.

Crews anticipate starting at Industrial Way and working their way toward Via Esteban, paving one side of the street at a time. Commuters can expect lane shifting with two-way traffic being maintained throughout the duration of the work, and traffic flow shifting around active construction zones. It is expected that grinding and paving work will take place during standard construction from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We expect to continue work on Tank Farm Road including potholing to locate underground utilities, such as gas, water, and electrical lines, and curb ramp work at Poinsettia Street and Sunrose Lane.

Work Completed

Curb ramp upgrades on Sacramento Drive have been completed as well as striping renewal at the following locations: Broad Street (Orcutt Road to Tank Farm Road), Madonna Road (Cabrillo Highway on-ramp to Higuera Street), Prado Road (S. Higuera Street to Hopkins Lane), the intersection of Mill Street and Santa Rosa Street . Thanks to the improvements these areas are now safer and more accessible.

As part of SLO in Motion, the City of San Luis Obispo is repaving roads, improving pedestrian safety and visibility, adding accessible curb ramps to sidewalks, and more.

These construction projects are not just about fixing roads and adding bike lanes. They're a vital part of our collective vision for San Luis Obispo, one that seeks to create a more resilient, vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking community.

Timeline & Objectives
What to Expect During Construction
Stay in Touch

A graphic banner of the 2025 Transportation, Paving, & Mobility project timeline

Project construction is expected to begin late August 2025 and take several weeks to complete each road segment. Work is expected to be complete in early 2026. Specific project objectives include:

Repairing potholes and reconstruct roadway pavement to provide a smooth surface for driving, using transit, bicycling, and walking across the street.
Pursuing strategies to reduce illegal speeding on Sacramento Drive and Tank Farm Road.
Enhancing visibility and safety for pedestrians crossing Tank Farm Road.
Increasing visibility and separation between bicycles and higher-speed motor vehicle traffic on Sacramento Drive and Tank Farm Road.

Project Details

Starting summer 2025, transportation, paving, and mobility improvements are planned on various roadways in San Luis Obispo. The 2025 Transportation, Paving, & Mobility project will include pavement rehabilitation, ADA upgrades to pedestrian curb ramps, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements for different streets as identified in the City’s Active Transportation Plan and Vision Zero Program. The work is expected to be completed in early 2026.

For more technical information about this year's project, please review our Traffic Analysis Memo.

This project includes improvements to the following city streets:

Paving Upgrades

Tank Farm Road (Santa Fe Road to Orcutt Road)
Sacramento Drive (Industrial Way to Via Esteban)

Striping Renewal

Broad Street (Orcutt Road to Tank Farm Road)
Madonna Road (Cabrillo Highway on-ramp to Higuera Street)
Prado Road (S. Higuera Street to Hopkins Lane)
The intersection of Mill Street and Santa Rosa Street

A map of the 2025 Transportation, Paving, & Mobility Project happening in San Luis Obispo as part of SLO in Motion

Design Details

Tank Farm Road (Broad Street to Orcutt Road)

Roadway improvements include:

Five-lane to three-lane road diet between Poinsettia and the Rail Road bridge, retaining five auto lanes between Broad and Poinsettia near the Marigold Shopping Center.
Installation of radar speed feedback signs and additional speed limits signs to encourage lower auto speeds.
Striped curb extensions (bulbouts) at Tank Farm/Poinsettia and Tank Farm/Sunrose/Morning Glory to shorten pedestrian crossing distances and increase pedestrian visibility.
Pedestrian safety improvements at Tank Farm/Poinsettia, including relocation of crosswalk and existing rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) to east leg of intersection for improved visibility and reduce conflicts with turning traffic. High-visibility crosswalk markings, new streetlighting, advanced warning markings/signage, and striped corner bulbouts to reduce pedestrian crossing distance.
Addition of a new pedestrian crossing at the Tank Farm/Morning Glory/Sunrose intersection, including hi-visibility crosswalk markings, new streetlighting, RRFBs, advanced warning markings/signage, and striped corner bulbouts to reduce pedestrian crossing distance.
Addition of RRFB beacons at the Righetti Ranch Roundabout for crosswalks crossing Tank Farm Road, improving visibility for pedestrians. (Note that vegetation trimming is also scheduled prior to the paving project to improve visibility at this intersection)
Striping modifications to the westbound approach of the Tank Farm/Broad Street intersection to convert the existing westbound right-turn lane to a combined through/right-turn lane (reduces vehicle congestion/delays and eliminates need for westbound bicycles to merge across high-speed/volume right turn lane).
Addition of green bike lane conflict markings at intersections and high-traffic driveways.

Tank Farm Road (Broad to Poinsettia)

Tank Farm Road (Poinsettia to UPRR Bridge)

Tank Farm Road (Righetti Ranch to Orcutt)

Sacramento Drive (Industrial to Via Esteban)

Along with pavement rehabilitation and restriping, improvements to Sacramento Drive include:

Measures to reduce illegal speeding around roadway curve north of Capitolio, including striping modifications, flexible bollards, and centerline hardening (bots dots) to encourage safe speeds and reduce encroachment into bike lanes and sidewalks.
ADA curb ramp upgrades.
Installation of radar speed feedback signs and additional speed limit signs.
Addition of green bike lane conflict markings at intersections and high-traffic driveways.
Addition of striped bike lane buffers, where width allows.
Moderate expansion of parking restrictions at intersection corners (“daylighting”) to improve sight distance and safety for all road users.
Pilot installation of speed cushions between Via Esteban and Industrial Way to reduce illegal speeding. The pilot will be a separate effort to the paving project which will be advanced and evaluated as part of the 2025-27 City Work Program.

Firetruck on Road

Sacramento Drive Cross Section (looking north) Sacramento Dr Proposed Cross Section

Past Meetings

A City Council hearing for the 2025 Paving Project was held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. This meeting was a final input opportunity on the design plans. The agenda and staff report is available here.
A public hearing was held on November 21, 2024 to present preliminary project designs to the City Active Transportation Committee and community members for review and comment.

Meeting Staff Report and Audio Recording
Meeting Staff Presentation

FAQ Box

When will construction begin and end for the transportation and mobility project improvements?

Construction is expected to start late August 2025 and continue through early 2026.
Are any major sidewalk and/or pedestrian lighting improvements included in this project?

ADA curb ramps will be upgraded along Sacramento Drive and Tank Farm Road to enhance accessibility and ensure safer, more inclusive travel for all users. Along Tank Farm Road, lighting will be added for pedestrian crossings at Poinsettia and Morning Glory/Sunrose.
Are there specific impacts our businesses can expect during the construction phases?

We know construction is disruptive, and the City is working hard to minimize impacts to businesses and customers as much as possible. Businesses can expect temporary impacts and inconveniences due to construction noise, traffic delays, marked temporary detours for lane or road closures and odors as a result of paving and heavy construction equipment

Some temporary impacts are unavoidable. We will do our best to inform businesses ahead of time of any potential impacts as work continues. The City will make it a priority to notify businesses at least 30 hours before construction begins.

Traffic updates and construction progress will be available for businesses through our online services. To help keep your customers informed about the upcoming work, please see the City’s business outreach toolkit.
Can I submit a request for additional transportation and mobility improvements in my neighborhood?

Each year, the City seeks community input on the areas for improvement within the SLO community through an online survey. Please watch the City’s social media channels or emails for more information. In the meantime, community members can submit transportation and mobility requests to the City’s transportation division by contacting City transportation staff at traffic@slocity.org or 805-781-7200. Please visit the City’s traffic safety webpage for more resources.
Does the project reduce any vehicle travel lanes? If so, why?

Yes. The project includes a road diet only on Tank Farm Road from the eastern side of the Marigold Center to Righetti Ranch Road, reducing from two auto lanes in each direction to one auto lane each direction (plus a center turn lane).

The main goal of the road diet (lane reductions for vehicle traffic) on Tank Farm between Poinsettia and the railroad bridge is to increase safety, especially for pedestrians crossing Tank Farm Road. Road diets have been shown to increase safety for all users of the road by discouraging unsafe passing and speeding, reducing conflict points, and reducing the exposure of pedestrian crossings at intersections.

An analysis and traffic study concluded that the road diet will not create significant congestion now or in the future as the City grows and preserves sufficient clearance for day-to-day emergency response and potential large-scale emergency evacuation needs.
How can I make a suggestion or complaint about traffic signals?

Please email our Transportation Operations staff or call us at (805) 781-7190. For information on City maintained traffic signals click here.
How do I get in touch with the project team if I have a question?
Community members are encouraged to stay informed throughout construction through the following SLO in Motion communications channels:
- E-news: To receive notifications with project updates, please subscribe for regular updates.
- Website: To receive current information or previous studies, please visit our project webpage.
- Email: For questions or inquiries, please email sloinmotion@slocity.org.
- Phone: For questions or inquiries related to the project, please call the project hotline at 805-783-7887.
How do I report a problem with a traffic signal?

If you observe an issue with a traffic signal, please contact our Signal Maintenance Technician at (805) 781-7220 or submit a service request through the City's engagement platform, AskSLO.
How does this project benefit drivers?

This project focuses on repairing and reconstructing roadway pavement and replacing faded roadway striping to improve the overall condition and visibility of the road. Other project features improve safety for all road users, including measures to reduce illegal speeding and additional safety lighting.
How will parking be affected?

Construction will temporarily impact parking spaces within the project area. Notification and signage will be placed by the contractor to create awareness for community members.

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